[March 5, 2022] There are times when doing the right thing – doing what is moral and honorable – is unpopular. I found myself and those I served with on the end of such unpopular opinions while deployed in the Iraq War.1 Politicians, Hollywood actors, journalists, and other uninformed folks, regularly dismissed our efforts as foolhardy and evil. … Read More »
[February 22, 2022] I was on “Veterans Talk”1 at KDWN 720AM/101.5FM radio this past Saturday. The show’s theme was based on the question, Is Patriotism Dead? Not to give away too much, but I argue that American patriotism is not dead, and I list the reasons why. The interview format worked well as the dialogue flowed – mostly… Read More »
[February 17, 2022] With great fanfare, the CEO of Morgan Stanley investment bank announced a new Freshman Enhancement Program in conjunction with Princeton University.1 Morgan Stanley’s program excludes those who are not Black, Hispanic, Native American or LGBTQ+ freshman undergraduate class of 2025. By doing this, Morgan Stanley violated their core values. Putting aside the issue that anyone… Read More »
[February 10, 2022] I admit to putting off the publication of this article for several months. I wrote it back in July of last year and decided to wait for several reasons. I list those reasons below. Some folks I trust implicitly, all in the U.S. Army, have told me about internal policy changes and evolving military priorities… Read More »
[February 8, 2022] Growing up, us kids had minimal permission to watch television and were restricted to one 30-minute show per evening. My brother and I chose the TV show Combat!, starring Vic Morrow and Rick Jason.1 This televised war drama series covered the grim lives of a squad of American soldiers fighting the Germans during World War… Read More »
[February 6, 2022] I didn’t know it at the time, but I grew up privileged. As a young boy, my privilege was being in the company of combat veterans from World War II and the Korean War. They were everywhere; being salesmen, pumping gas, farming, raising dairy cows,1 all holding down ordinary jobs you could find in a… Read More »
[January 20, 2022] I firmly believe that the greatest civil rights issue of the 21st Century is protecting unborn children from death. There is no greater noble cause than to stand with the innocent. There is no excuse not to. My view in a post-modern world is wildly unpopular, and I openly admit it. Many see my stance… Read More »
[January 18, 2022] In the iconic holiday movie, A Christmas Story (1983), a young boy named Ralphie is harassed by local bully Scut Farkus and his toadie Grover Dill. Spoiler alert, Ralphie figures out how to stop bullying and live his life as an innocent kid, having fun with friends and loving his family. The more serious topic… Read More »
[January 10, 2022] It’s a fact; I was a wimp before joining the U.S. Army. My upbringing was not at fault. I grew up around combat veterans, had a good formal and religious education, and had plenty of freedom to fish, hunt, and camp. I had plenty of opportunities but not enough challenges. Sure, I had dirty jobs… Read More »
[January 2, 2022] I’ve always been fond of saying that working under a bad leader is an excellent way of learning what not to do. Conversely, we can learn from the best leaders as well. Successful leaders share similar policies and leadership traits, while failed leaders follow their own path. “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family… Read More »